Scottish Executive

Air Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the comment made by the First Minister that private airlines must recognise their "social responsibility" as reported in the press on 24 April 2002, what the precise meaning is of the First Minister's comment; what action it will take in respect of the First Minister's viewpoint, and whether the First Minister plans to meet British Airways to discuss the obligations which he believes are incumbent upon them to fulfil their social responsibility to the people of the Highlands and Islands.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive meets airlines, including British Airways, on a regular basis to discuss a range of aviation matters, including the cost of flights and the encouragement of new services.

Apprenticeships

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed by it in each of the past three years and how many of these employees were participants in the modern apprenticeship scheme, broken down by Modern Apprenticeship Framework.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of staff employed in each of the last three years were as follows:

  Count of Permanent Scottish Executive Staff, by Year 2000-02

  


Year 
  

Staff 
  



April 2000 
  

15,122 
  



April 2001 
  

15,171 
  



April 2002 
  

16,404 
  



  The numbers of staff employed under the modern apprenticeship scheme were four in 1999-2000, five in 2000-01 and four in 2001-02 as stonemasons under the Construction framework. In 2001-02, 33 staff were employed under the Business Administration framework.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary question S1O-4646 by Iain Gray on 7 February 2002, whether the Minister for Social Justice has raised with Her Majesty’s Government the issue of people from churches in Scotland being fingerprinted and photographed when they visit asylum seekers in Dungavel Detention Centre.

Ms Margaret Curran: As I indicated on 7 February, I intend to raise this issue when I next meet Home Office Ministers. I expect such a meeting to take place shortly.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 has on the duties of any local authority that has any immigration removal centre in its area.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 are fully complied with at the Dungavel House immigration removal centre.

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities are carrying out their duties under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 with respect to the children of asylum seekers held in immigration removal centres.

Cathy Jamieson: The Home Secretary has a duty to look after those applying for asylum under the Immigration Acts. The Home Office has taken responsibility for ensuring that the needs of the children are met and may work with local authorities to do so.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the duties of local authorities are in respect of children held in immigration removal centres.

Cathy Jamieson: The Home Office has responsibility for ensuring the needs of children in detention centres are met. The Home Office has the power to make arrangements with the local authorities. I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-24470 on 23 April 2002 and S1W-25113 today.

Common Agricultural Policy

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to engage with the Parliament and its European Committee and Rural Development Committee on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Ross Finnie: I will send copies of key documents to the convenors of the European and Rural Development Committees as these become publicly available and will place copies in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. I will also be happy to consider requests for further information from Parliament or the committees.

Crime

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23033 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 March 2002, what the crime statistics for the Strathclyde Police area reveal for the periods (a) 25 January to 30 January 2002, (b) 1 February to 6 February 2002 and (c) 8 February to 13 February 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

Dental Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24218 by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 April 2002, what the (a) target and (b) average waiting time were for patients on the waiting lists for maxillofacial and oral surgery to receive a first appointment with a consultant in (i) Scotland and (ii) each NHS board area in the year ending (1) 30 September 2000 and (2) 30 September 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in oral surgery, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner or General Dental Practitioner, by NHS board of residence, in the years ended 30 September 1999 and 30 September 2000, are given in the following table.

  The target waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner or General Dental Practitioner, was nine weeks.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times for a First Out-Patient Appointment with a Consultant in Oral Surgery1, Following Referral by a General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner, by NHS Board of Residence. Years Ended 30 September 1999 and 30 September 2000.

  


NHS Board 
  

30 September 1999 
  

30 September 2000 
  



Argyll and Clyde2


- 
  

- 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

35 days 
  

38 days 
  



Borders 
  

17 days 
  

15 days 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

69 days 
  

69 days 
  



Fife 
  

69 days 
  

51 days 
  



Forth Valley 
  

77 days 
  

44 days 
  



Grampian 
  

49 days 
  

69 days 
  



Greater Glasgow2


- 
  

- 
  



Highland 
  

29 days 
  

33 days 
  



Lanarkshire2


- 
  

- 
  



Lothian 
  

89 days 
  

106 days 
  



Orkney 
  

44 days 
  

37 days 
  



Shetland 
  

25 days 
  

29 days 
  



Tayside 
  

65 days 
  

50 days 
  



Western Isles 
  

32 days 
  

10 days 
  



Scotland2


56 days 
  

51 days 
  



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR00.

  Notes:

  1. Includes most maxillofacial surgery.

  2. Information for residents of Argyll and Clyde, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire NHS boards is not available due to recording difficulties at Glasgow Dental Hospital.

Domestic Abuse

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with COSLA and the local authorities outwith COSLA concerning the provision of refuges and supported housing schemes for the victims of domestic violence.

Ms Margaret Curran: There have been no formal discussions with COSLA and local authorities outwith COSLA about the provision of refuges and supported accommodation for the victims of domestic violence since the spring of 2001 when the allocation of monies in respect of the first tranche of the Refuge Development Programme was being considered.

  Communities Scotland local officers have since had informal discussions with individual local authorities about projects under the programme.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a decision not to fund training posts under the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund; if so, when this decision was taken, who made it and how it was transmitted to those applying for funds.

Ms Margaret Curran: The second round of the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund received applications to fund 83 projects at a cost of £2,314,928 - an oversubscription of £814,928.

  A decision has been taken to continue to fund those training projects already supported by the fund in 2000-01 and 2001-02 but to leave consideration of new projects until the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland develops a coherent National Training Strategy.

  Letters relating to the six projects involved were issued on 5 April.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training is currently provided within teacher training courses to provide teachers with the necessary skills to support young people experiencing domestic abuse.

Nicol Stephen: The Guidelines for Courses of Teacher Education in Scotland sets out Scottish ministers’ policy on content, nature and duration of courses leading to teaching qualifications. The precise form of individual courses is determined by the higher education institution.

  Issues such as domestic abuse and the rights of the child are covered within courses of initial teacher education. The guidelines require that newly qualified teachers must be able to demonstrate an understanding of international, national and local guidelines on child protection and teachers' roles and responsibilities in this area. They must also understand the roles of other professionals concerned with pupil learning and welfare and how to work with them.

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much earmarked funding has been received, or will be received, by each NHS board for drug treatment services under the Arbuthnott Substance Misuse Formula (a) since the formula came into use and (b) in future financial years for which budgets are available, expressed in cash terms and per capita.

Dr Richard Simpson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25154 on 1 May 2002, which detailed allocated resources to each NHS board for drug treatment services for 1998-99 to 2002-03, in cash terms and per capita. The current position is that allocations for 2003-04 will remain the same as for 2002-03, and NHS boards have been notified accordingly. The Arbuthnott Substance Misuse Formula was used to determine allocations for 2001-02 to 2003-04.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23379 by Mr Andy Kerr on 22 March 2002, when it will publish the analysis being carried out into migration and demographic change in Scotland and how these will impact on the Scottish economy.

Mr Andy Kerr: This work is at an early stage and no decisions have yet been taken on dissemination arrangements for any resulting analysis.

Economy

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of VAT (a) registrations and (b) de-registrations is an indicator of economic growth or downturn; if so, in what way and how the numbers of these in Scotland and the Glasgow area related to economic performance in each of the past three years.

Iain Gray: There is not a simple short-term association between the number of VAT registrations and economic performance. The table shows changes in the number of VAT registrations and de-registrations in Scotland and Glasgow alongside changes in employment. Movements in the number of de-registrations follow changes in the number of registrations with a lag of about two years.

  Year   Glasgow (change on preceding year )   Scotland (change on preceding year)   VAT Registrations   VAT De-registrations   Employment   VAT Registrations   VAT De-registrations   Employment 1998   +0.7%   +13.4%   +2.2%   -3.7%   -5.3%   +3.1% 1999   +0.7%   -0.3%   -1.7%   -3.5%   +8.9%   -0.9% 2000   -2.7%   -1.1%   +6.9%   0   -4.3%   +5.0%

  Sources: VAT statistics from DTI, Employee jobs from Annual Business Inquiry.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) cannot retrospectively forbid classes from taking exams in circumstances where registration for those exams has been accepted by the SQA and where all course work conditions have been met.

Nicol Stephen: It is the responsibility of centres to ensure that candidates are correctly entered for qualifications, including where appropriate, to receive the necessary approval for exceptional entry under the age and stage regulations. However, for the current exams round (2002), I have asked SQA to exceptionally allow certification for those candidates who do not meet the age and stage regulations and for whom centres have not sought the appropriate approval.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s (SQA) age and stage regulations are incompatible with the philosophy of Higher Still and whether the SQA will take a more flexible approach to these regulations.

Nicol Stephen: As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-25162 on 1 May 2002, I will consider whether a review of the age and stage regulations is necessary. As part of that I will consider whether or not the age and stage regulations are compatible with the philosophy of National Qualifications.

Education

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new action it is taking to promote science in schools.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is continuing to implement a range of measures as part of its commitment to school science within A Science Strategy for Scotland and supporting delivery of the National Priorities for Education. During May, £3 million is being distributed to education authorities in support of these initiatives. The funding will enable teachers to undertake high quality professional updating in science and provide additional resources for science education. This is in addition to the £5 million already announced on 22 January of this year.

Employment

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage women who have left jobs in public health and education to return to work in those services.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the recruitment and retention of groups in society that are currently under represented.

  NHS Scotland employers operate under Family Friendly Policy guidance. These policies are designed to encourage recruitment and retention in the NHS, enabling men and women to combine work with home commitments and contribute to making NHS Scotland an attractive and exemplar employer. The Scottish Executive Health Department is also funding Return to Practice Schemes to help nurses and midwives return to work, as well as providing funds to support flexible training options for junior doctors.

  In relation to education the recruitment and deployment of teachers is a matter for the local authority employers. However, under the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century, it has been agreed that the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers should give further consideration to family friendly policies.

Enterprise

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive with regard to the branding and value exercise at Scottish Enterprise (SE), awarded to Corporate Edge as reported in The Drum on 15 February 2002, what brief was issued to firms intending to enter the competitive pitch process; how much SE received to fund the exercise; what input it had to the final selections, and what advantage Corporate Edge, based in London, had over any Scottish firms that pitched for the exercise.

Iain Gray: The information requested is not held centrally. This is an operational matter for the enterprise networks.

Enterprise

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise has ever helped or offered business advice to firms that pitched for its brand and values exercise.

Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for the enterprise networks. The information requested is not held centrally.

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21028 by Mr Jim Wallace on 22 January 2002, whether it will give its definition of "led the UK delegation".

Mr Jim Wallace: In this context, "led the UK delegation" means that the minister concerned was the primary spokesperson for the UK at the meeting in question.

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21028 by Mr Jim Wallace on 22 January 2002, who the members were of each delegation that was led by a Scottish minister.

Mr Jim Wallace: On all three occasions the Scottish minister formed the UK ministerial delegation and was supported by officials as appropriate.

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of each committee listed in Part A - Annex I(a) of the Final adoption of the general budget of the European Union for 2002 (OJ L 29 31/01/02), whether any of its officials attended any meeting of each such committee in 2001 and, in each case, how often.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally. Officials have attended appropriate committees where there has been a devolved interest.

Finance

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of private finance is which has been provided to fund its Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership projects to date.

Mr Andy Kerr: The capital value of Public/Private Partnership (PPP) "Done Deals" to date is £2.2 billion. This figure comprises those projects that have been signed or are expected to sign within this financial year. The total estimated capital expenditure by the private sector on PPP projects over the period 2000-01 to 2003-04 is around 10% of the Scottish Executive's total capital expenditure for the same period and in terms of revenue support the figure is less than 2%.

Food Safety

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15517 by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 May 2001, how many local authorities have found illegal imports of meat as part of their routine inspections of food premises.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there have been no reports by local authorities in Scotland of illegal imports of meat found in food premises following routine inspection.

Food Safety

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15517 by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 May 2001, what the Food Standards Agency has achieved or concluded as a result of its programme of audits of ports and seaports to examine the effectiveness of UK border inspection arrangements covering personal and commercial imports.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the programme of audits of ports in April 2001 was undertaken to help inform policy development on the issue of illegal importation of food products of animal origin. The board of the Food Standards Agency subsequently agreed, at its meeting in October 2001, that agency officials should explore a number of proposals to improve controls on imported food at ports. The agency has also been involved in the development of the Government Action Plan on illegal imports, published by Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the end of March, as were devolved administrations. The information from the agency’s audit programme will inform on-going work in this area.

Graffiti

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to combat graffiti.

Dr Richard Simpson: On 31 October 2001 we announced details of a new community safety award programme which will give all council-led Community Safety Partnerships a share of £12 million over the next three years for local community safety initiatives. The programme will allow Community Safety Partnerships to identify local priorities and address issues such as graffiti. For 2002-03 the Inverclyde Community Safety Partnership has been allocated a total community safety award of £113,140.61. One of the priorities within the partnership’s strategy is to tackle vandalism, graffiti and fly tipping. Indeed, Inverclyde Council’s Building Services Department has a dedicated graffiti squad which will remove obscene or offensive graffiti immediately when reported and other graffiti on a priority basis.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is being given to local authorities for the provision of vocational rehabilitation programmes for people with acquired brain injuries.

Malcolm Chisholm: Services for people with brain injuries are provided by local authorities from their general social work allocations in accordance with locally assessed needs and priorities, and are often provided in partnership with the health board and local voluntary sector organisations. These are set out in each authorities' Community Care Plan.

  Most local authorities provide services for the brain injured from their mental illness specific grant allocations, often in tandem with their health partners. Total local authority net budgeted expenditure on services for people with mental health problems, including acquired brain injury, was £47 million last year, including funding from general Scottish Executive revenue grant and £19 million through the Mental Illness Specific Grant (MISG). For 2002-03, MISG will support 22 projects offering services and support to those with brain injuries, many of which provide, or help facilitate access to, rehabilitation programmes.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any NHS boards have placed restrictions on the prescribing of Glivec as a treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia, and, if so, which boards.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on drugs dispensed in hospitals is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has assessed Glivec and has recommended it for restricted use within NHSScotland. The Executive expects NHS boards to take account of advice and evidence from the SMC and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are available to meet clinical need.

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what energy efficiency targets have been built into any evaluation process for proposals for housing stock transfer to housing associations in Edinburgh.

Ms Margaret Curran: Councils, tenants and acquiring landlords will, where appropriate, consider energy efficiency improvements when developing transfer proposals. The detailed specification of individual proposals is a matter for local consideration.

Housing

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the £300 million repayable grant offered to Glasgow Housing Association over a period of 10 years at 0% interest (a) what the repayment regime for the grant will be and (b) how much, in total, the grant will cost the association.

Ms Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23406 on 24 April 2002.

Housing

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of investment there will be on housing stock in each Glasgow parliamentary constituency over the first 10 years after the transfer of the housing stock to Glasgow Housing Association, should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of investment there will be on housing stock in each Glasgow parliamentary constituency over 30 years after the transfer of housing stock to Glasgow Housing Association, should there be a yes vote in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot.

Ms Margaret Curran: This information is not available on a constituency basis. Indicative levels of investment, subject to a yes vote in the ballot, are provided for each local housing organisation over the first 10.5 years in the city council’s second stage consultation notice. Copies of which are lodged in the Parliament’s Reference Centre: Glasgow South, Bib. number 20206; Glasgow North, Bib. number 20207; Glasgow East, Bib. number 20208; Glasgow West, Bib. number 20209; Glasgow South-West, Bib. number 20210.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any debt write-off following transfer of Glasgow City Council’s housing stock will include non-Public Works Loan Board debts for housing.

Ms Margaret Curran: The arrangements for dealing with local authorities' residual housing debt following a whole stock transfer were set out in the answer to question S1W-18180 on 28 September 2001.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) non-Public Works Loan Board and (b) Public Works Loan Board debt in respect of housing Glasgow City Council (i) owes in total and (ii) repays annually through its Housing Revenue Account.

Ms Margaret Curran: As at 31 March 2001, Glasgow City Council's total debt was £2,185 million, comprising £1,932 million Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) and £253 million non-PWLB. Around £900 million of the total debt is apportioned to the Housing Revenue Account but in line with other councils Glasgow operates a consolidated loans fund and does not allocate individual loans to housing.

  Following the result of the ballot to transfer the housing stock to the Glasgow Housing Association, the council will examine an apportionment of its loans.

Housing

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties were converted into houses in multiple occupation by social landlords other than local authorities and by private developers in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties were converted into houses in multiple occupation by local authorities in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses in multiple occupation were built by local authorities in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

Ms Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24567 on 24 April 2002.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the leasing of commercial properties by Glasgow City Council will be affected by the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Glasgow Housing Association intends to take over the leases of those commercial properties which are transferring as part of the housing stock transfer.

Mining

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Enterprise invested in the Longannet coal mine and what the prospects are for the recovery of the money.

Iain Gray: In June 1999, Scottish Enterprise provided a guarantee to underwrite £5.4 million of bank borrowing by Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd in order to allow the company to continue trading. The level of this guarantee was varied on several occasions in line with the company’s bank borrowing requirements.

  Under the terms of the guarantee agreement, Scottish Enterprise has now paid out £4.514 million to the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Mining

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it approved the arrangement entered into by Scottish Enterprise to act as guarantor for Mining (Scotland) Ltd.

Iain Gray: Yes.

NHS Staff

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether nurses working in the NHS receive payment, vouchers or any other financial support to pay for off-site childcare as part of their pay and conditions.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The provision of financial support for off-site childcare is a matter for individual health boards and trusts to decide. The Scottish Executive is committed to family friendly policies and encourages all NHSScotland employers to adopt and support appropriate childcare policies.

NHS Waiting Lists

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any member of the Audit Scotland inquiry team into deferred waiting lists is based in an NHS trust hospital with more than 25% of waiting lists operating on a deferred basis.

Malcolm Chisholm: The audit is being undertaken by staff of Audit Scotland, supported by two staff with a background in medical records seconded from North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust and Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trusts. On 31 December 2001, both trusts had deferred waiting lists which were more than 25% of their in-patient and day case waiting lists.

NHS Waiting Times

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) target and (b) actual current waiting times are for a neurological examination by a consultant neurologist in each NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in neurology, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner, by NHS board of residence, in the year ended 31 December 2001, is given in the table.

  The target waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner or General Dental Practitioner, is nine weeks.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times for a First Out-patient Appointment with a Consultant in Neurology, Following Referral by a General Medical Practitioner, by NHS Board of Residence. Year Ended 31 December 2001P.

  


NHS Board 
  

Median Wait 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

80 days 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

97 days 
  



Borders 
  

78 days 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

101 days* 
  



Fife 
  

67days 
  



Forth Valley 
  

70 days 
  



Grampian 
  

88 days 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

95 days 
  



Highland 
  

59 days 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

106 days 
  



Lothian 
  

28 days 
  



Orkney 
  

120 days* 
  



Shetland 
  

97 days* 
  



Tayside 
  

70 days 
  



Western Isles 
  

56 days* 
  



Scotland 
  

70 days 
  



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR0.

  PProvisional.

  Note:

  *Represents less than 100 patients.

Nursing and Midwifery

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will fulfil its pledge to guarantee a minimum of one year’s employment in the NHS for all newly qualified midwives graduating by October this year.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Facing the Future , the report of the 19 November 2001 convention on recruitment and retention in nursing and midwifery gave a commitment that every nurse and midwife in training will be guaranteed a year's employment on qualification from autumn 2002 if they wish.

  Work is currently under way to put in place the processes to support the delivery of this guarantee.

Planning

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the setting up of a single planning authority for the River Clyde corridor.

Ms Margaret Curran: None. In terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 a planning authority shall be the local authority and the district of the planning authority shall be the area of the local authority. Any changes in that arrangement would require primary legislation.

Planning

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-23664 and S1W-23665 by Ms Margaret Curran on 18 March 2002, whether it will give a breakdown by planning authority area of the 830 planning applications that have been referred to Scottish ministers since May 1999.

Ms Margaret Curran: The breakdown by planning authority area of the 830 planning applications referred to the Scottish ministers since May 1999 is as follows:

  Cases Notified to the Scottish Ministers since May 1999 by Council

  


Council 
  

1 May 1999 – 28 Feb 2002 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

12 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

39 
  



Angus 
  

21 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

26 
  



City of Edinburgh 
  

56 
  



City of Glasgow 
  

98 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

7 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

18 
  



Dundee City 
  

14 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

14 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

14 
  



East Lothian 
  

21 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

22 
  



Falkirk 
  

15 
  



Fife 
  

41 
  



Highland 
  

49 
  



Inverclyde 
  

9 
  



Midlothian 
  

42 
  



Moray 
  

26 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

16 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

63 
  



Orkney 
  

8 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

12 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

21 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

14 
  



Shetland Isles 
  

15 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

20 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

32 
  



Stirling 
  

16 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

6 
  



West Lothian 
  

59 
  



Western Isles 
  

4 
  



Total 
  

830

Planning

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-23664 and S1W-23665 by Ms Margaret Curran on 18 March 2002, what access planning authority officials have to the Scottish Parliament website MSP list and postcode search facility.

Ms Margaret Curran: The website can be accessed by any party.

Planning

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-23664 and S1W-23665 by Ms Margaret Curran on 18 March 2002, what resource implications prevent planning authority officials from informing MSPs representing constituencies contained within a planning authority area that a planning application from within that area has been referred to Scottish ministers.

Ms Margaret Curran: This is a matter for each individual local authority.

Planning

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23884 by Nicol Stephen on 21 March 2002, how many proposals which would involve the loss of a playing field have been referred to it by planning authorities as a result of  sportscotland advising against the proposal.

Ms Margaret Curran: Since December 1997, when the requirement to notify such applications to the Scottish ministers was introduced, seven cases involving the possible loss of playing fields have been referred to ministers for consideration.

Planning

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23884 by Nicol Stephen on 21 March 2002, what guidelines  sportscotland follow when considering planning applications and developments likely to prejudice or lead to the loss of playing fields and what guidance it gives to  sportscotland on this issue.

Ms Margaret Curran: National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space  provides guidance to planning authorities on the protection of playing fields. This confirms that playing fields should not be redeveloped except where:

  the retention or enhancement of the facilities can best be achieved by the redevelopment of part of the site without affecting its sporting potential and its amenity value; or

  there would be no loss of amenity, and alternative provision of equal community benefit and accessibility would be made available, and

  there is a clear long-term excess of pitches, playing fields and public open space in the wider area.

  Sportscotland take the guidance contained in NPPG 11 into account when considering development proposals.

Post Office

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance can be afforded to employees affected by the decision of Consignia plc to close the Parcelforce Worldwide parcel distribution centre in Glasgow and the depot in west Glasgow.

Allan Wilson: Current permanent employees are expected to be given a choice of remaining in Consignia in another role or taking a voluntary redundancy package. Support will be provided to any Consignia employees becoming redundant through dedicated local response teams already in place under the Executive’s PACE framework. This will ensure a rapid response in terms of retraining/upskilling and advice on employment opportunities. These workers will have early access to Training for Work and Jobcentre Plus programmes.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoner custody officers have authority for the purpose of performing custodial duties in accordance with section 114 of, and Schedule 6 to, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 which has not been cancelled, withdrawn or lapsed.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  One hundred and ninety as at 16 April 2002.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19287 by Mr Jim Wallace on 5 November 2001, what the expected tax gross-up associated with the contract is expected to be, at current tax rates, if notice of termination under section 40 and schedule H of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock were given by the Scottish ministers four years and six months after the contractual opening date.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This would require detailed calculation by independent advisers. I see no reason to commit to such expenditure on advisers now since the Executive has no plans to terminate the contract.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24249 by Mr Jim Wallace on 3 April 2002, who is registered as having title to HM Prison Kilmarnock and its grounds.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The land is owned by the Scottish ministers. Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited has leasehold rights to it.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what area of land is leased to the contractor and what financial consideration forms part of the lease; on what date the land was purchased or acquired by the Secretary of State for Scotland or by any public body responsible to him or his successors; what the purchase price of the land was on that date and what the estimated value of the land is now or was most recently assessed under section 9 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Twenty-eight hectares are leased to the contractor for a peppercorn rent of £1 per annum. The land was purchased in early 1997 for £810,000. The value of the land has not been independently re-assessed since purchase.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the minutes of the quarterly meetings of Family Contact Development Officers in the Scottish Prison Service record any note of difficulties encountered by visitors to sex offenders in non-specific sex offender jails.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The minutes of the quarterly meetings of the Family Contact Development Officers in the Scottish Prison Service do not record any note of difficulties encountered by visitors to sex offenders in any Scottish prisons.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Family Contact Development Officers there are within the Scottish Prison Service.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of officers designated as Family Contact Development Officers within the Scottish Prison Service is 86. This number includes 17 managers.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to paragraph 95 of the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review, whether in estimating costs for a publicly built prison the review assumed the adoption of a project management approach to add certainty to the delivery of the project to deadline, detailing the reasons for its position on the matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: The estimated costs assumed that an appropriate project management system would be in place. The Scottish Prison Service is already using a project management approach in its present houseblock building programme and would apply a similar approach in the construction of any new prison.

Public Appointments

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) appointments and (b) re-appointments to public bodies have been made since October 1998, broken down by gender.

Mr Andy Kerr: From 1 October 1998 to 31 March 2001, a total of 588 new appointments were made of which 383 (65%) were male and 205 (35%) were female.

  For the same period, a total of 255 re-appointments were made. We are unable to provide the gender breakdown of re-appointments for the period 1 October 1998 to 31 March 2000 because this information was not collated at that time. However, since April 2000 data on the gender breakdown of re-appointments has been collated. For the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001, a total of 110 re-appointments were made of which 80 (73%) were male and 30 (27%) were female.

Public Transport

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19942 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 January 2002, what progress has been made to seek an exemption for Glasgow Underground from the draft European Transport Regulation.

Lewis Macdonald: There is no change in the position from the answer given to questions S1W-17966 on 19 September 2001 and S1W-19942 on 28 January 2002. There is specific reference to the Public Service Requirements in the conclusion of Barcelona European Council calling for agreement by the end of 2002.

Public Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has undertaken, and intends to undertake, to improve the affordability of public transport.

Lewis Macdonald: Affordability of rail fares on services provided by ScotRail was addressed in the Executive’s consultation document, Strategic Priorities for Scotland’s Passenger Railway , in relation to the refranchising process. Free off-peak local bus travel for elderly and disabled people will be introduced on 1 October. Subsidies to contain the level of fares are also provided through the Rural Transport Fund, and our support for lifeline air and ferry services in the Highlands and Islands.

Renewable Energy

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the £4.5 million funding package for the wave test centre in Orkney will be made available.

Ross Finnie: We are in close contact with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other stakeholders regarding the proposed centre in Orkney. We expect to be able to make a decision on further support in early summer.

Roads

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when bilingual road signs in Gaelic and English on trunk roads in the Highlands are to be erected in accordance with the undertakings made by Her Majesty’s Government under Part III, Article 10, 2(g) of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive presently permits Highland Council to use bilingual signs on local roads. The erection of signs is a matter for the local roads authority. On trunk roads, Gaelic boundary signs and bilingual direction signs are already in place on the A87 in Skye and the A830. New bilingual signs will be provided on the section of the A830 between Arisaig and Kinsadel, now under construction. A report is being completed on further options for bilingual signs on the trunk road network.

Roads

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that BEAR Scotland Ltd and other contractors have bilingual Gaelic and English road signs on their routes in accordance with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Lewis Macdonald: Contractors employed to maintain or construct new trunk roads comply with the instructions of the Scottish Executive in regard to the signing that they provide. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24913 today.

Roads

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why directions by the former Minister for Transport and Planning on 10 August 2001 that BEAR Scotland Ltd should meet my constituent, Mrs S Brown concerning a potentially dangerous situation on the A90 trunk road have not been carried out and what steps the Executive will take to address my constituent’s concerns without further delay

Lewis Macdonald: Representatives of BEAR Scotland Ltd met with Mrs S Brown on 29 April 2002 and I understand an order has been placed for the manufacture of signs as a result of that meeting.

  Executive officials have reprimanded BEAR over their very slow response.

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken with regard to upgrading access roads between the Rosyth ferry terminal and the M90; what (a) funding has been secured and (b) timetable exists in respect of such upgrading, and what studies have been carried out into the (i) current and (ii) projected traffic flow volume through Rosyth and its effect on the community and residents.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive held discussions earlier this year with Fife Council about the council's strategy for access to the Rosyth Ferry Terminal. These discussions were largely concerned with signage, particularly for heavy goods vehicles. However, the main access route to the terminal, the A823(N) is a local road and it is therefore a matter for the council to consider whether any upgrading of the road is likely to be required.

School Transport

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6975 by Peter Peacock on 1 June 2000, whether it is reconsidering making it a requirement that transport for schoolchildren and pre-school children should be fitted with seatbelts and whether it is aware of any local authorities which are making the fitting of seatbelts in school transport a requirement before awarding contracts.

Nicol Stephen: Our position on contract specification remains as Peter Peacock indicated. Policy and legislation on vehicle standards, including fitting of seatbelts, is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Executive does not collect information about local authority school transport contracts.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been in each year since its inception to 31 March 2002 for the (a) design, (b) print production, (c) advertising, (d) promotion and marketing, (e) distribution and (f) external assessment of responses, for all its public consultations and what the estimated budget for such activities is for the period 1 April 2002 to 1 May 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: Costs for different aspects of consultation exercises are not always identified separately within the budget for a specific policy area. As there is no central record of such costs, it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of expenditure for particular aspects of consultation exercises. Gathering such detailed information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the Executive is currently giving consideration to the need for a central mechanism to record details of its consultations as part of the on-going work to improve Scottish Executive consultation practice and co-ordination. Decisions on the size of budgets for such activities in forthcoming consultations are taken by the Executive on an on-going basis.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each of its departments spent in each year since its inception to 31 March 2002 on (a) publishing and (b) promoting public consultation documents and what the budget for each department for such activities is for the period 1 April 2002 to 1 May 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: The costs associated with particular aspects of consultation exercises are met from the budget for a specific policy area and are not always separately identified. As there is no central record of such costs, it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of expenditure for particular aspects of consultation exercises. Gathering such detailed information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the Executive is currently giving consideration to the need for a central mechanism to record details of its consultations as part of the on-going work to improve Scottish Executive consultation practice and co-ordination. Decisions about the details of activities to be undertaken in forthcoming consultations are taken by the Executive on an on-going basis.

Social Work

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary question from Alasdair Morgan to question S1O-4829 by Cathy Jamieson on 7 March 2002, what will form the basis of its forthcoming national and local strategies to address the issue of social worker recruitment and retention.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive's plans are set out in the Action Plan for the Social Services Workforce , which was published on 18 April 2002.

Sport

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution women’s golf events make to the economy.

Mike Watson: Golf tourism contributes in the region of £100 million each year to the economy. This is not, however, broken down into separate figures for men's and women's golf.

Sport

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which major golfing events will be included in the major events strategy.

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which major women’s golfing events will be included in the major events strategy.

Mike Watson: The events which may be included in the Major Events Strategy are being considered by Objective Performance Limited as part of the work they are carrying out on behalf of the Executive. This work should be completed by the autumn.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to (a) the City of Edinburgh Council and (b)  sportscotland in regard to the future of Scotland's only velodrome at Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh.

Dr Elaine Murray: No representations have been made. However,  sportscotland is considering with relevant councils issues relating to the provision of national sports facilities including those at Meadowbank.

Teacher Training

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial saving will be made as a result of any reduction in the number of teacher training places from its original projections on 1 December 2001 and to what purposes any such saving will be applied.

Nicol Stephen: The parties to the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century estimated that an additional 3,000 teachers will be required in order to implement all of its key elements by the target date of August 2006. Funding allocated to cover the provision of extra teachers necessary to meet the agreement, whether through the training of new teachers or by the recruitment of those teachers already qualified still seeking employment, will be made available as and when demand arises. There are therefore no expected financial savings from the decision to revise teacher training places.

Textile Industry

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with relevant parties and provide assistance to ensure the continuation of carpet weaving in Scotland following the announcement of workforce reductions made by Stoddard International PLC on 16 April 2002.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive and the Enterprise Network will continue to support the textiles industry in Scotland. The Scottish Textiles team within the Enterprise Network was set up in May 2001 to assist the industry to remain one of Scotland’s key manufacturing sectors, driven by continual product and design innovation, new technology, highly skilled workers and successful marketing.

Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance, financial or otherwise, will be available to community sports clubs which are not registered charities following the restriction of water rates relief to charities under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.

Ross Finnie: The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 contains no provisions whose effect is to restrict relief on water and sewerage charges to charities.

  Section 40 of the act enables Scottish ministers to make regulations reducing the water and sewerage charges, or exempting from these charges, those specified in the regulations. Using this power, Scottish ministers made the Water and Sewerage (Exemption) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (SSI1358) on 27 March 2002.

  The regulations, which came into effect on 1 April, set out conditions to be satisfied if premises are to be exempted from water and sewerage charges in the period to 31 March 2006. The main conditions are that premises were not paying the full charge for water and sewerage services on 31 March 1999 and that those responsible for paying the charge have an annual income of £50,000. Sports clubs that satisfy these and the other conditions in the regulations will receive an exemption, regardless of whether or not they are registered charities.

Young People

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24633 by Cathy Jamieson on 23 April 2002 and following the meeting of Minecor on 25 April 2002, whether it is now able to give its position on Scottish representation on the Youth Convention on the Future of Europe.

Cathy Jamieson: A final decision about the composition of the UK delegation to the Youth Convention has not yet been taken. I shall write to the member when this information is available.

Young People

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive,  further to the answer to question S1W-24633 by Cathy Jamieson on 23 April 2002, what further information it is awaiting in respect of the proposed Youth Convention and what the relevance is of the European Youth Gathering in Murcia, Spain, to the proposed Youth Convention and to potential Scottish participation in the convention.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25469 today. Scottish participation in the Murcia Gathering shows collaborative working with all the devolved administrations and the UK departments in action.